How to Do a Sleeper With a Yo Yo: 14 Steps (with Pictures) How to Do a Sleeper With a Yo Yo Three Parts: Performing a Basic Sleeper Perfecting the Sleeper Transitioning to Advanced Tricks Community Q&A The "sleeper" is a basic yo yo trick that's used as the foundation of many more complicated tricks. In a basic sleeper, the performer throws the yo yo down towards the ground, where it stays spinning at the end of its string until the performer jerks it back into his hand. While the sleeper isn't difficult compared to many more complicated tricks, since it's a foundational skill, it's something that's important for any serious yo yo-er to master before progressing to advanced tricks. See Step 1 below to start catching some serious Zs with your yo yo! Steps Performing a Basic Sleeper 1 Grab a decent-quality yo yo. Compared to other yo yo tricks, the sleeper is fairly simple. Most basic yo yos of a reasonable level of quality should be able to perform a sleeper without any problems. However, some cheap "toy" yo yos which are poorly constructed may be almost impossible to perform a sleeper with.

If you have one of these types of yo yos, consider upgrading to a higher-quality model to make it much easier to do sleepers and any other tricks that you may want to try. While certain high-end yo yo models can be expensive, most serviceable ordinary yo yos won't cost you more than $10-$20. For a stronger spin, consider buying a model with metal construction or added bearings — the extra weight gives the yo yo more momentum as it spins, making longer sleepers possible. 2 Master the gravity throw before trying a sleeper. The sleeper begins in almost exactly the same way as the basic yo yo move called the gravity throw, so it’s useful to become confident with this simple technique before trying the sleeper. Though it may sound intimidating, the gravity throw is anything but — it’s just the basic “up and down” motion that almost anyone can do with a yo yo. Though this move isn’t terribly tricky, learning the proper technique for a gravity throw will make doing a sleeper much easier. To do a gravity throw, hold the yo yo upright in your dominant hand, palm-up.

Make a motion like you’re flexing your bicep, then bring your forearm back down and let the yo yo roll out of your hand. Turn your hand over to catch the yo yo as it hits the bottom of its string and bounces back up. 3 Hold the yo-yo in your hand palm-up. To do a sleeper, you'll begin exactly as you would for a gravity throw. Loop the yo yo's string loosely around the middle finger of your dominant hand. Hold it upright in your palm so that the skinny end is sitting against the flesh of your hand. Curl your fingers around it slightly to support it. Hold the yo yo out in font of you with your elbow bent and at your side. 4 Throw the yo yo down. Make a motion like you're flexing your bicep by curling your hand and forearm up towards your shoulder. For extra power, you can even lift your elbow so that it's roughly level with the floor (or even past this point). In one smooth motion, roll your forearm and hand downward and let the yo yo roll off of your fingers as you throw it at the ground. This motion should be quick and powerful, but fluid.

The harder you throw the yo yo, the longer it will "sleep." Turn your hand over so that your palm is facing the floor after you throw your yo yo so that you have greater control over the string and can eventually catch the yo yo when it comes back up (this motion should come fairly naturally). Don't hold on to the yo yo too tightly — keep your grip loose throughout your throwing motion. You're trying to get the yo yo to roll off of your hand and fly directly at the ground. If you grip the yo yo tightly and release it only as you throw it down, it may fly diagonally, rather than straight down, giving your sleeper a wobbly pendulum-like motion. 5 Try to keep the yo yo upright as it spins. Unlike with a gravity throw, you won't want to yank the yo yo back up after you throw it — simply let it hit the bottom of its string. The yo yo should begin spinning smoothly and quietly at the end of the string. It should usually remain upright as it spins without much effort on your part, but if your initial throw was subpar or your string is wound too tightly, it may begin to wobble.

In these cases, you may need to subtly pull the yo yo in the opposite direction to prevent it from losing its balance. 6 Give the yo yo a slight tug to have it climb back up. Congratulations — you've just done 90% of a sleeper. Now all you need to do is "wake the yo yo up" (in other words, get it to return to your hand). For most basic models, all you'll need to do is give the yo yo a small, sharp upward tug. The yo yo should "catch" the string and work its way back up toward your hand. If your yo yo doesn't seem to have enough "strength" to climb the string all the way, try throwing it harder to give it more spin. Grab it as it reaches the top of the string and you're done! Some modern yo yos (especially high-end models) sacrifice the ability to climb back into your hand for longer, smoother spinning. If you have this sort of yo yo, it may be difficult or impossible to get it back from a sleeper simply by jerking it up. Instead, you may need to use a special technique called a “bind” to generate enough friction for the yo yo to climb the string.

See below for more information. Part 2 Perfecting the Sleeper 1 Hold the yo yo with proper posture. Making just a few minor changes to the way you hold your yo yo can make the difference between "so-so" sleepers that fizzle out after ten seconds and sleepers that spin for a minute or longer. For the best results, try to maintain a loose grasp on the yo yo with your middle finger, index finger, ring finger, and thumb before your throw. Curl your fingers up under the yo yo and bring your thumb around the backside to stabilize it. Keep your wrist loose before and during your throw — it should move freely, independent of your forearm. For the best sleepers, you'll also want to be sure that the string is on the outside edge of the yo yo, rather than the inside. In other words, you want the yo yo's string to wind around the top of the yo yo, rather than around the bottom. This allows the yo yo to roll smoothly out of your hand when you throw it. On the other hand, if the string winds around the yo yo backwards, the added strain can make your sleeper be somewhat "wobbly" or tilted. 2 Use strong throws.

As noted above, in general, the harder you throw your yo yo at the floor, the faster and longer it will spin. For basic sleepers, you probably won't need your yo yo to spin for all that long, but when you advance to complicated tricks, you may need to be able to count on having a minute or more of solid spin time. Because of this, it's wise to get in the habit of throwing your yo yo with a good amount of force early. However, no matter how hard you throw your yo yo, you'll want to use proper technique to keep it under control — in other words, use the loose bicep-flexing throwing motion described above. As an example of what's possible with good throwing technique, expert yo yo-ers with good yo yos can achieve sleepers that spin for over 10 minutes. Some professional-grade yo yos are even advertised as being able to achieve a spin time over 30 minutes! [1] 3 “Cushion” the yo yo’s landing. You may have noticed that, occasionally, the yo yo will climb back up the string when you try to do a sleeper even if you don't jerk it up.

This happens when the yo yo hits the end of its string, runs out of slack, and bounces back upwards, catching the string again. To avoid this problem, try giving the yo yo a subtle jerk before it hits the end of its string. This puts a little slack in the string, making the yo yo hit the bottom of its path with less force and reducing the chance it will bounce back up. It can be tricky to get the timing on this move perfect, so practice plenty. For the best results, you want to jerk somewhat gently just before the yo yo hits the bottom of the string, when it's about three-quarters of the way down. 4 Learn the “bind” technique for getting your yo yo back up. As mentioned above, some professional-grade yo yos are constructed in a way that deliberately sacrifices the ability for the yo yo to climb back up the string in order to make it easier to perform advanced tricks. If you have this sort of yo yo, you'll need to perform a special move called a bind to be able to get the yo yo back into your hand after a sleeper.

The basic goal of this technique is to put a small loop into the string as it winds up, which creates enough friction for the yo yo to "catch" the string and start climbing up the string. To perform a bind: Start by throwing an ordinary sleeper. Use your free hand to grab the string a few inches above the spinning yo yo. Keep holding onto the string while you swing the yo yo under the fingers of your free hand and catch it on the string. This should leave you with the yo yo still spinning at the lowest point of a checkmark shape formed by the two string sections. Gently pull on the string connected to your throwing hand to pull the yo yo closer to the fingers on your free hand grabbing the doubled-up string section. When the yo yo gets too close to keep holding on, let go with your free hand. The string should catch on itself and the yo yo should climb the string back into your hand. Part 3 Transitioning to Advanced Tricks 1 Try walking the dog. As noted above, for experienced yo yo-ers, the sleeper is usually performed merely as a small part of a more complicated trick, rather than as a trick on its own.

Once you've mastered the basic sleeper, you may want to try learning some of these more advanced tricks to expand your repertoire. For instance, "walking the dog" is an intermediate-level trick that involves throwing a basic sleeper and gently lowering the spinning yo yo until it just touches the floor. When it catches on the ground, the yo yo should skip or roll forward like a dog on a leash! Jerk the yo yo back into your hand to end the trick. 2 Try rocking the baby. This trick involves making a "cradle" with the string and swinging the yo yo through it like a miniature pendulum. To rock the baby: [2] Start by throwing a basic sleeper. Use your free hand to pull the string between the index finger and thumb of your throwing hand as if you're drawing a bow. This should create a large loop. Use the fingers on your free hand to spread this loop, then move your free hand downward to turn the shape vertical. The still-spinning yo yo should swing back and forth through the gap in the loop. Drop the string and jerk the yo yo back into your hand to end the trip. 3 Try an around the world.

Perhaps one of the oldest, most well-known yo yo tricks in the book, the around the world involves swinging the yo yo in a large vertical circle like a Ferris wheel. To perform an around the world: Start by throwing a modified sleeper out in front of you (rather than down towards the floor) in a move called a "forward pass". With your yo yo in your hand at your side, bring your arm forward as you uncurl your wrist and allow the yo yo to roll off of your fingers. When the yo yo hits the end of its string, pull it up over your head and behind you in one fluid motion. Let the yo yo complete a single complete circle, or, if you're feeling confident, feel free to give it another "trip" around the world. When you're ready to stop, wait until the yo yo is out in front of you, then jerk it back towards your body and catch it. 4 Try a brain twister. This intimidatingly-named trick can require some serious practice, but it looks amazing when it's perfected. To perform a brain twister: [3] Begin by getting your yo yo into the same checkmark-shaped string arrangement as you would use when performing a bind.

Move your free hand up and around to the other side of the throwing hand string. Pull back on the strings with your throwing hand index finger, then move your throwing hand up and fling your yo yo over the top of both hands. Let the yo yo swing out and away from you and back down underneath your hands. You can stop here or keep swinging the yo yo for additional revolutions. When you're done, drop the yo yo back into its starting position and let it climb back into your hand. With each revolution, the string will wind around your throwing hand finger. Point your finger toward the yo yo as it climbs the string to allow the string to unspool and the yo yo to climb back into your hand. Community Q&A Walk the Dog Yoyo Trick - Learn how | YoYoTricks.com $9.99 Select options Walk the Dog Yoyo Trick This trick is called Walk the Dog and it’s actually one of the easiest, but also one of the famous yoyo tricks you can learn.

All the trick really is, is your gonna throw a good sleeper and then touch the yoyo to the ground; when the yoyo touches the ground the spin is going to cause the yoyo to walk forward and that’s really all there is to this trick. I’m going to show you two tips that are going to make learning this trick a whole lot easier. So, the first one is, when you get your sleeper, your actually going to want to swing the yoyo behind you so that you can swing it forward again, and that’s going to give it some forward momentum to keep the yoyo moving. The second thing is that as the yoyo is walking you want to make sure never to move your yoyo hand too close to the yoyo because that is going to put slack in the string and that’s going to make the yoyo come right back. As long as you keep these two tips in mind, this trick is going to be a breeze. How to Do the Walk-the-Dog Yo Yo Trick - YouTube How to Do the Walk-the-Dog Yo Yo Trick Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content.

The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Feb 17, 2010 Watch more Easy Yo-Yo Tricks videos: This is one of the most famous classic yo yo tricks you can perform. It's easy and always a hit. Step 1: Throw a fast sleeper Throw a fast sleeper to start the trick. Drop the yo-yo and don't let it bounce and return to your hand after you drop it. Step 2: Swing the yo-yo in front of you Swing the yo-yo gingerly in front of you and set it lightly on the ground. Tip Avoid concrete and other rough surfaces that can damage your yo-yo. It's best to use a wood floor or a floor with firm carpet. Step 3: Let the yo-yo move Let the spinning motion of the yo-yo pull it along the ground. If the yo-yo snaps back early, just try it again. Step 4: Return the yo-yo Return the yo-yo to your hand by giving it a quick jerk before it stops spinning. Did You Know? Did you know?

It is believed that the yo-yo originated over 2,500 years ago in ancient Greece. Category Yo-Yo – Walk the Dog and Other Sleeping Tricks – How to Videos on MonkeySee – Free Instructional Videos Transcript Hi! I am Dick Stohr, also known as That Yo-Yo Guy. What we've been talking about up to this point is the basic non-sleeping yo-yo tricks, where the yo-yo goes to the end of the string and comes right back to your hand. What we're going to do now is take that second loop of string off of the axle, so that we can do the sleeping type tricks. So you untwist the yo-yo string, open up, take that off; so if you take both loops off, it's like putting a new string on a yo-yo. So, one loop allows the yo-yo to spin inside of that single loop. Now remember, this is a fixed wood axle yo-yo, so there is friction on the string, and it will not do a lot of the advanced tricks that require a ball bearing or transaxle yo-yo. But we are going to move now to the very basic yo-yo sleeping tricks, okay?

When you wind a string now, you have to trap it; you can over your finger and underneath, one, two -- notice I am not pulling on the yo-yo string, I am just guiding it into the groove. This time when I get it all wound up and I throw it down the first time, that extra loop will come right out, and will bring it up right away. This is now a sleeping yo-yo. It will do all of the sleep tricks. The basic sleep trick is what I just did, the Sleeper. This is where the yo-yo stays at the end of the string, and you bring it back up. What we want to do is help you understand that that is the basis for the kinds of things that you can do with a yo-yo, but you have to have the power. So, remember the yo-yo Power Throw; start with the wrist, cock it, raise your elbow, throw, turn, wait, catch.

That's how you do the Power Throw; and the more power that you put into it, the more force that you get from the arm throwing from up here -- not the wrist snap, but the throwing from up here, you will get the powerful, straight yo-yo, so that you can do the sleep tricks. There is the basic Sleeper. From the Sleeper, the next progression then would be to do Walk the Dog, and this is the trick that everybody remembers. This is where you get it sleeping, you put it on the floor, let it walk away and then bring it back up. Make sure that the yo-yo is in front of your hand when it hits the floor, because if it's underneath your hand and you hit the floor, it will bounce right back up. But you swing it out a little bit, let it pull on the string, it will do the walk, and then you can bring it back to your hand. Notice my hand when I do the yo-yo trick; notice that the hand just gives a flick and that gives the string enough slack, so that the yo-yo will jump on to the string and come right up to your hand.

You dont have to do a lot of work to do that, its just a nice, smooth flick. Now, Sleeper, Walk the Dog, the next then should be something called Rock the Baby in the Cradle. And this is something where we will start now to learn strings with a term called Dead String. We are going to let the yo-yo just hang and ignore the yo-yo until we learn the fingering for the hand. What we are going to do now, is take your hand and karate chop your thumb, grab the string, pull it up and over, spread and point these fingers and go underneath the yo-yo. Notice the yo-yo swinging in here, this is called Rock the Baby in the Cradle. Don't worry about the fact that the yo-yo is not spinning; what's important is to learn the sequence of getting your string into the proper configuration. So, you say stop, chop, four fingers pull, spread, point, swoop right underneath the yo-yo. That's how you are going to do, Rock the Baby in the Cradle.

Now we can do it with a sleeping yo-yo; again, because this is a sleeping yo-yo you have to trap the string, clear the loop, okay? Now, Rock the Baby; Sleeper, up, over, Rock the Baby, drop it, bring it back. So, the Rock the Baby trick consists of the movement of your hands to configure the yo-yo string to make sure that you are going to do it properly. So, we've learned the Sleeper, the Walk the Dog, and the Rock the Baby, and now what we are going to do in the next clip is learn more of the yo-yo sleeping tricks. Videos in this Series Walk the Dog Yo-Yo Trick - Easy Yo-Yo Tricks | HowStuffWorks Walk the Dog Yo-Yo Trick Prev Next Throw a fast Sleeper and let the spinning motion pull the yo-yo along the ground. While the yo-yo is still spinning, give it a slight tug to bring "doggie" home. This dog won't hunt or need a license, but it will perform plenty of yo-yo tricks. At the end of the Walk the Dog trick, give a whistle and "call" your doggie home.

Step 1: To take your "doggie" for a walk, start by throwing a fast Sleeper . Up Next 10 Historical Toys Step 2: Swing the yo-yo slightly forward and set it lightly on the ground. Let its spinning motion gently pull it along the ground. The yo-yo may snap back to your hand, but keep trying. Step 3: Before the yo-yo stops spinning, give a slight tug, and the "doggie" will return to your hand. Be careful not to perform this trick on concrete surfaces, such as a sidewalk or a driveway. The rough surface can seriously damage the edge of your yo-yo. The best surface for this trick is a firm rug or carpet. In the next section, you'll build on the tricks you've learned so far. Ready to take a trip Around the World? For more fun yo-yo tricks and kids activities, check out: Duncan basic Yo-Yo tricks The Eiffel Tower yo-yo trick is one of the most well-known tricks by non-yoyoers. It involves manipulating the string to form the famous tower.

Wicked Vision 1 Gresham Way,Wimbledon, London, SW19 8DW, UK, 0870 871 3999 | Yo-Yo Tips and Tricks | MACkite - Where FUN Begins! ™ Yo-Yo Tips and Tricks Around the World Choosing a Yo-Yo To many people, a yo-yo is a yo-yo. There was a time not too long ago when this was largely true. But in the past few years, yo-yos have been designed with technology and physics in mind, creating different yo-yos for different skill levels and styles of play. So what makes one yo-yo different from another? There are many characteristics which set one yo-yo apart from the next. Body material (wood, plastic, rubber, aluminum), weight, axle design and material, body shape, and size all play a role in determining how a yo-yo will perform. Of these, shape and axle have the greatest effect on the yo-yo's performance. Yo-Yo Shapes Although yo-yos can come in any balanced shape, the majority of them fall into three categories: traditional, flared gap, or modified.

The traditional design is the classic and most common shape for a yo-yo. It is a good all-around shape for most tricks and is good for looping. Most beginners will do well on a yo-yo with a traditional shape like the Brain. The flared gap design is basically the two halves of the traditional design reversed. Because of its extra wide string gap, it is an excellent shape for tricks which require the yo-yo to land on its own string, such as Trapeze and Split the Atom. Offstring tricks, where the yo-yo is not attached to the string, are also best performed on a flared gap yo-yo. It is a difficult shape for looping, however. Yomega Saber Wing yo-yos are an example of this shape. The modified design is the newest of the three shapes. The majority of the yo-yo's mass is distributed around the rim of the yo-yo, allowing for the longest spin, or sleep, time possible. It is also capable of being a good looper.

Many modified yo-yos like Bumblebees and ProYos cover the hollow inside with a lightweight paper or plastic cap to give it the more familiar feel of a traditional yo-yo while maintaining the performance of a modified. Modified flared gap yo-yos are also gaining popularity for their long spin times during long, complex string tricks. Yo-Yo Axles There are two basic types of axle: fixed axle and transaxle. A fixed axle has the string of the yo-yo looped around the axle itself. These yo-yos sleep (spin) because the string is attached loosely enough for the axle of the spinning yo-yo to slip in the loop at the bottom of the string. The axle itself does not move. Fixed axles may be made from plastic, wood, or metals such as steel or brass. Most players prefer wood axles for performance, but metal axles for strength. Some modern yo-yos such as the Technic and ProYo have combined the best of both worlds by placing a wood sleeve over a metal axle, and many players use these for their blend of strength and performance in tournaments where fixed axles are required.

Fixed axle yo-yos do not sleep as long as transaxle yo-yos, but can make better loopers. Although you can unscrew the two halves of some fixed axle yo-yos to remove string tangles, many cannot be taken apart, so make sure you know your fixed axle yo-yo can come apart before you try! String tension, or how tightly twisted the string is, is very important on fixed axle yo-yos. If the string is twisted too tightly, the yo-yo cannot spin in the loop at the end and will not sleep. But if the string is not twisted tightly enough, the yo-yo will not return. Experiment to find the perfect easy sleep - easy return string tension. A transaxle is a piece which spins on the metal axle of a yo-yo. The string is attached to this piece. The yo-yo sleeps because the transaxle spins freely. String tension is less important on transaxle yo-yos, although a loosely twisted string does catch inside the yo-yo better for easy returns. Transaxles may be either a plastic or nylon bearing, or a metal roller bearing.

The nylon bearing, such as is found in the Brain and Fireball yo-yos, is inexpensive, but will not sleep as long or as smoothly as the more expensive roller bearing. Yo-yos with nylon bearings require lubrication such as a Teflon oil. Most roller bearings are sealed and require little or no lubrication. Transaxle yo-yos sleep longer than fixed axle yo-yos, but can be difficult to use in looping due to their tendency to sleep. However, transaxle yo-yos with brake pads or friction stickers, or with adjustable gaps set narrow, can be very good loopers. Yo-Yo Maintenance It's really very easy to keep your yo-yo in top spinning condition when you know how! Stringing Your Yo-Yo Depending upon the type of yo-yo, you will need to put from one to three loops around the axle of the yo-yo. You should never take a yo-yo apart to string it. This could result in the string getting caught and cut in the axle threading when you screw it back together. A yo-yo string is simply one long string folded in half and twisted up. Remove the old string by untwisting it until you can slip the yo-yo out.

To put one loop on a yo-yo, untwist the new string at the bottom (the end without the knot) until you have opened up a loop large enough to slip over the yo-yo. Slip this loop over the yo-yo and into the string gap. Now allow the string to retwist while keeping tension on it to avoid kinks, and you're done! For two loops, start with one loop but continue to hold the string open after slipping it into the string gap. Give it a one-half twist and slip the loop over the yo-yo again. For three loops, give it one more half-twist and slip it over the yo-yo again. Retwist the string after you have installed the proper number of loops. Stringing Guidelines This should give you an idea how many loops to put on your yo-yo. If you're not sure, start with one loop and add more until your yo-yo both sleeps and comes back easily. All fixed axle yo-yos: One loop. Two are preferred by some for looping, and three can be used for very young children so the yo-yo doesn't sleep, making it easier to get it back to the hand.

Nylon transaxle yo-yos, such as the Yomega Brain: Three loops; two for more advanced players. Roller bearing yo-yos: One or two loops. Yo-yos with an adjustable string gap: Usually one loop, sometimes two. Trimming the String and Making a Slipknot The string should be waist to navel high on the yo-yo player. If it is too long, cut it about four inches above the waist. To retie the loop, fold the top of the string over about an inch and tie a knot near the cut end of the string. Now, pull the string through the loop you just made and you will have a slipknot. String Placement Most yo-yo players wear the string on their middle finger between the first and second knuckles. This provides a good combination of leverage for powerful throws and balance for improved control during tricks. Winding the String With the exception of the Brain, the string can be difficult for beginners to wind, especially with transaxle and roller bearing yo-yos. An easy way to wind your yo-yo is to place your index finger over the string gap and wind the string once over your finger.

Next wind the string twice more around, this time under your finger and inside the string gap. Now slip your finger out and finish winding your yo-yo. Oiling Your Yo-Yo Yo-yos with nylon transaxles (such as Brains and Fireballs) require lubrication when they are hard to get back to the hand or make a screeching noise. To oil your yo-yo, unscrew it and remove the transaxle. Place a drop of Teflon oil on the smooth part of the metal axle, being careful to avoid getting any on the threading of the axle (the yo-yo will not stay together if there is). Replace the transaxle and screw the yo-yo back together, being very careful not to damage it by overtightening. Roller bearing yo-yos rarely require lubrication, if at all, as some use sealed bearings (such as Bumblebees). If you do feel that your bearing yo-yo needs lubrication, place a very small drop of Teflon oil in the groove on the side of the bearing. Normal play will work the oil into the bearing. Yo-Yo Troubleshooting and Repair Like all mechanical objects, things can occasionally go wrong with yo-yos.

Use this guide to quickly find and fix your problem so you can get back to practicing for that next big tournament! My Brain won't come back automatically String: Make sure the string is triple looped and tightly twisted around the transaxle so that it is not slipping. O-ring: After enough use, the o-ring will wear down from the closing of the clutch around it. If the o-ring seems flat around the edges rather than rounded, replace it. Wipe any oil off the o-ring and clutch. Clutch: The clutch may be broken so that it cannot close tightly on the o-ring. This can happen if the yo-yo hits the ground hard. My fixed axle yo-yo won't come back Twist the string so that the loop is a little tighter around the axle. Replace an old, thin string with a new, fluffy one. My Fireball/Powerspin/Raider/RBII won't come back Oil: The yo-yo needs oil to fill the air gap between the axle and transaxle. String: Check to be sure the string is looped three times on the Fireball or Powerspin. Also, old, thin strings do not work as well as new, fluffy ones.

String Gap: The string gap may be too wide. Be sure your yo-yo is screwed together all the way. It is also sometimes possible to knock or pull the axle nut from its plastic housing inside the yo-yo. If this has happened, it can sometimes be fixed by firmly pushing the two yo-halves together to pop it back into place. Skill: These aren't beginner yo-yos. If you haven't yet mastered a strong throw, you may simply need to practice or start out with a Brain yo-yo to develop your skills. My yo-yo won't sleep String: Be sure the string is looped, not tied around the axle. Look for knots in the string. Untwist the string a little so the axle can spin freely within the loop at the end. Check to see if the string is tangled inside the yo-yo or screwed into the axle threading. If the string is tangled inside a non take-apart yo-yo and you use a paper clip, scissors, or other sharp or metallic object to remove it, be very careful not to scratch the axle or inside of the yo-yo as this will quickly cut through your string.

String Gap: If the yo-yo axle threading has been stripped or a spacer has been lost, the yo-yo may be screwed too far together, not leaving a wide enough space for the free spinning of the bearing or string. Axle: Transaxle yo-yo: It may need to be oiled. There may be dirt on the axle. The axle may be scratched, preventing the free spinning of the transaxle or string. Brain: The transaxle may be in backwards. Put the o-ring side of the transaxle into the "smart" half of the Brain. Adjustable Gap yo-yo: The string gap may be adjusted to too narrow a setting. Widen the gap and try again. Roller bearing yo-yo: The pieces may be in the wrong order. Spacers go on both sides of the bearing, cupping around it. Small o-rings, if there are any, go on either side of the spacers.

My string keeps breaking It is normal for a yo-yo string to break after six to eight hours of play (or less for more advanced players or yo-yos with wood axles), but if your string is breaking after only minutes of play and the yo-yo is a fixed axle yo-yo, the axle may be scratched. A scratched axle will buzzsaw its way through a string very rapidly. A take-apart yo-yo's string may have gotten caught in the axle threading. If a string falls off a bearing, it will be cut quickly. Check to see that you have all the parts inside the yo-yo and that they are in the correct order. If the yo-yo has an adjustable gap, the gap may have been widened past the width of the bearing. My yo-yo keeps coming apart or won't screw back together Threading: It is normal for all take-apart yo-yos to work their way apart over time and should be checked for tightness during play. Wipe any oil off the axle threading and screw the yo-yo back together until it is snug, taking care not to strip the threading or crack the plastic housing.

Stripped: If the axle threading or nut is stripped, or the plastic housing around the nut is cracked, the yo-yo may not screw together or stay together. Don't use too much force when screwing your yo-yo back together and trim your string so you don't hit the ground to prevent this from happening. My yo-yo won't come apart Fixed axle: Fixed axle yo-yos like older Duncan models and most wood yo-yos are not made to come apart. Carefully remove string tangles with a paper clip, taking care not to scratch the inside of the yo-yo or the axle. Stripped/cracked: Yo-yos which have been stripped or cracked may not come apart. Don't use too much force when screwing your yo-yo back together and trim your string so you don't hit the ground to prevent this from happening. My new yo-yo has a mark/knob on the edge This is the mold mark present on many popular models of yo-yo and is perfectly normal. My cap fell off Usually this happens when the yo-yo hits the ground too hard. You can have an adult help you glue it back on with super glue.

I need to take out my axle without scratching it Although it doesn't work every time, we've had good luck wrapping something like a heavy rubber band around the axle to protect it before using pliers to unscrew the axle from the yo-yo. Yo-Yo Tips and images ©1998 by Yo-Yoda of Yo-Yo Universe Yo-Yo Tricks Don't know where to begin with that yo-yo? Here are some basic tricks to get you started! Sleeper This is one of the most basic, but toughest to master yo-yo tricks out there. Make sure you throw the yo-yo hard! You will need to throw the "yo" overhanded, which means you hold your hand palm up. Make a "muscle" with your arm, and put the yo-yo on your shoulder. Now, lift your elbow up to face level, and throw the yo-yo with a hard snap of your wrist. This should provide you with ample sleep time to complete other yo-yo tricks.

NOTE: If you are using the Yomega X-Brain, or classic Brain, you may need to throw the yo-yo even harder: this way, the centrifugal clutch will be disengaged, and the yo-yo can sleep. Forward Pass The forward pass is a valuable trick to know, because it can help you to learn looping as you progress to advanced yoing maneuvers. In order to forward pass, hold the yo-yo by your waist. Now, with the top of your hand facing the same way you are looking, you must do two things at once: drop the yo-yo, and swing your arm outward. NOTE: Make sure to swing your arm from the shoulder. It needs to be a "sweeping" motion, which utilizes your whole arm. Also, avoid moving your hand toward your face: the yo is attached to your hand, and that's where it's coming back! Walk the Dog For this trick, you need to throw a hard sleeper. Throw the sleeper, and very gently, touch the yo-yo to the ground. The "yo" will then roll across the floor, and you are walking the dog!

NOTE: Don't set the yo-yo on the ground too hard, or it will jump back up to your hand. Around the World You will need to throw a hard forward pass in order to successfully complete an around the world. Throw the forward pass, and let it sleep at the end of the string, as it swings around your body. As it passes in front of you again, give the yo-yo a small tug, and the yo will return to your hand. NOTE: Make sure to look around you before you do this trick. Around the World can be dangerous, because the yo-yo is moving fast, and is covering a large area. GET MACKITE SPECIALS & NEWS

Question: The Sleeper, Around the World, and Walking the Dog are tricks performed with what?
Answer: A Yo-yo